Sailing to Dundee

“The recent photograph of HMS Unicorn conjured up happy childhood memories,” emails Stanley Gordon of Newport. “I enjoyed sailing over to Dundee on the ferry, especially when it was one of the paddle steamers, BL Nairn or Sir William High.

“I used to stand on the deck and take in the passing scenes of heavily laden sand boats dredging near to Middle Bank and of the jute liners berthed at the harbour. I was also amazed at the number of factory chimneys dominating the skyline of the city. Coming home on an evening ferry, it was intriguing to see the dark waters brightly illuminated by boats fishing for sprats.

“The Unicorn seemed a fitting scene to greet visitors when the ferry was approaching Craig Pier. Often, in the foreground, children were fishing from the slipway leading down to the river.

“I remember when the Unicorn was named HMS Cressy and she stimulated my imagination of popular films of the 1950s, featuring galleons and buccaneers. The cabin windows in the stern of the ship reminded me of the captain’s cabin in the movie features.

“My brother used to take me swimming in the Dundee Public Baths, which were situated over the path to the east of the ship where there was a vending machine supplying hot soup, providing a ‘shivery bite’ when heading for home.

“The docks were an interesting place to explore and I was very taken with the variety of boats and also with the little arched bridges spanning the waterways.

“The Royal Arch dominated the scene and I remember a little engine used to chug along Dock Street, perhaps carrying goods between the east and west stations?”